Whitworth wins in Minnesota

Ronnie Thomas ran for 161 yards and three touchdowns as Whitworth jumped ahead early and eased past College of St. Scholastica for a 28-13 season-opening football win Saturday afternoon in Duluth, Minn.

Thomas scored from 4 yards out on the Pirates’ opening drive and had another short touchdown run in the second quarter to give Whitworth a 14-0 halftime lead.

Thomas then scored on Whitworth’s first drive to open the second half. Later in the quarter, Jake DeGooyer caught a 33-yard touchdown pass from Michael McCune to give the Pirates a 28-0 lead.

Whitworth held St. Scholastica to 249 yards of total offense.

The win is Whitworth’s first season-opening victory since 2008 and it snapped the Saints’ 14-game winning streak.

The Pirates play at Whittier College on Saturday.

Around the state

Sewanee 30, Puget Sound 7: The Tigers quickly erased an early deficit with 27 unanswered points in a season-opening win over the Loggers in Sewanee, Tenn.

Texas A&M-Kingsville 35, Central Washington 7: The Javelinas took advantage of four Wildcats turnovers and beat Central Washington in a nonconference season-opener in Kingsville, Texas.

Senior Ryan Robertson threw for 253 yards to lead the Wildcats.